And with you bring your brethren also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father: The previous verse focused on the Kohathite clan, but this verse deals with the rest of the tribe of Levi, a point emphasized by the Hebrew particle rendered also (gam). In many languages the conjunction And may be omitted if the word also is used (so New Jewish Publication Society Version). Good News Bible omits both And and also, which we do not recommend. With you bring is literally “bring near with you [singular].” If it is necessary in the target language to specify the place where Aaron must bring his fellow Levites, translators may add “to the holy place” (De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling). Good News Bible leaves the phrase with you implied. Your brethren is literally “your brothers.” The Hebrew pronoun for your is singular, referring to Aaron. Instead of brethren or “relatives” (Good News Bible), the word “kinsmen” (New Jewish Publication Society Version) conveys more clearly that the Hebrew here refers to fellow members of a tribe. Rashi noted that your brethren referred specifically to the clans of Gershon and Merari (3.21-26, 33-37). The other two clans of the tribe of Levi are mentioned separately from the extended family of Aaron’s family (verse 1), that is, the Kohathite clan, which was smaller. The tribe of your father is the same as the tribe of Levi. For tribe see 1.4.

That they may join you is literally “and let them join themselves to you.” New Jewish Publication Society Version says “to be attached to you,” which is more accurate than Good News Bible‘s rather flat translation “to work with you.” The Hebrew verb for join (lawah) and the name Levi (meaning “joining”; see Gen 29.34) come from the same root, so there is a play on words here. Use of this verb also suggests a certain subordination of the clans of Gershon and Merari to that of Kohath and the priestly family of Aaron.

And minister to you: See 3.6. The verb minister may be rendered “help” (Good News Bible), “assist” (Revised English Bible), or “serve” (New Revised Standard Version).

While you and your sons with you are before the tent of the testimony: The Aaronic priests have their own duties to perform in the Tabernacle. For you and your sons, see the previous verse; for the tent of the testimony, see 1.50 and 9.15.

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .